A Conversation with Thomas Jefferson

Many visitors don’t realize that Abingdon’s roots predate the Declaration of Independence so they may be surprised to find Thomas Jefferson greeting people at this year’s Festival.

This is the sixth year the Historical Society of Washington County has brought Bill Barker as Thomas Jefferson to Abingdon, usually for a conversation with one of Jefferson’s contemporaries. This year, there will be two Jeffersons – Barker along with Kurt Smith who has portrayed Jefferson at Colonial Williamsburg for the past decade.

Bill Barker & Kurt Smith will portray two Jeffersons on Sunday, July 27 and Monday, July 28 in the ballroom of the Martha Washington Inn and Spa. Both performances begin at 6:30pm with a cash bar opening at 5:30pm. Tickets are $25 per person, with a child 12 or under free when accompanied by a ticketed adult. Barker and Smith will also speak at a free program at the Higher Ed Center on Monday afternoon to share insights with anyone, young or old, who is interested developing their own skills of historical interpretation.